Improving working conditions in the Kenyan flower industry - Lessons on Valentine's Day

An insightful article in today's issue of The Conversation by Lara Bianchi from the University of Manchester examines how conditions in the fast growing Kenyan flower industry have slowly improved for its predominantly female work force. As noted by Bianchi this has not been an easy journey: 

At the outset women faced systemic inequalities which made them vulnerable workers. These included poor labour conditions, the violation of health and safety rules and sexual harassment. The product upgrading, along with concerted campaigns by human rights activists, NGOs, trade unions and the buy-in of business led to a sea change in the women’s working conditions.
The reforms show that when a broad range of stakeholders come together substantive changes can be made in favour of vulnerable women workers. In line with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, big corporations can be transformative in contributing to social justice for women workers. In a collaborative effort, the business community has a great opportunity to step in and lead the change.

In global labour markets characterised by casualisation and extenalisiation  many Kenyan flower producers now employ workers in the industry on permanent contracts and removed obstacles to women joining unions. This involved a concerted campaign to improve conditions in the industry which has important lessons for agribusiness in South Africa.

Bianchi reports that

The range of actors involved in the campaign brought a raft of changes across the industry. Sound gender policies on workers’ rights, training, promotion and grievance procedures were introduced. Social auditing involving local NGOs, trade unions and human rights organisations helped identify specific issues facing women workers on particular farms.
Thanks to specific gender policies on workers’ rights and grievance programmes, as well as to a decisive product upgrading, many Kenyan flower growers underwent a crucial switch from temporary to permanent contracts. This meant that women workers were now members of the unions, thus giving them access to another main channel to grievance and remedy.

Read the full story in The Conversation